1. Red tail and Red shouldered hawks pairing, circling and calling (this in February)
2. Bugs flying
3. Wild chives sprouting
4. A garter snake warming itself on a path
5. Skunk cabbage

AND, the biggest surprise (and most delightful):

6. Woodcock calling at dusk

The titmice have been "peter-peter"ing for awhile, and robins come through all winter. Mockingbirds sing in winter, too, so they really don't count. But yesterday I did hear a mockingbird softly singing a bang-up repertoire, as if he were rehearsing.

Have you seen any real signs of spring?

What an encouraging list! We in the Boston area also await spring (sometimes desperately), and I've noticed the following:

1. Buds on our crabapple and Japanese maple trees.

2. Daffodils starting to push up through the soil in our front yard.

3. A robin singing his (or her) heart out last week (few robins seen by us here this winter)

4. Seed-starting kits everywhere in the stores (I started mine this week - yay!).

5. The first mockingbird we have ever seen at our feeders,this morning.

That's my list so far - Everyone think spring!

Donna

Of course, here in Quebec, there are not much signs of spring yet. I don't complain since we got a very mild winter this year.
I think birds migrate according the lenght of light day, not only weather.

Tomorrow I will check firt Horned Larks, usually the first migrant at my place.

Luc

-Cardinals eating together in pairs
-Song Sparrows singing
-return of the Red-winged Blackbirds
-first returning Osprey sited (early!)

Love this time of year!